Higher Level Degrees Lead To Better Career Goals For Physical Therapists

A physical therapist (PT) is the health care professional who helps patients seeking to improve their quality of life by helping restore conventional functionality to their lives. Patients working with PTs are often afflicted with genetic disorders or suffering from the results of a debilitating injury. Physical therapists must assess patients' conditions and develop treatment plans to restore their functionality while reducing pain and avoiding additional disabilities.

Physical therapists can choose to find work in a variety of work settings. A hospital is the most common place to find a physical therapist where he or she can pursue a specialty that would include acute care, geriatrics or orthopedics. A physical therapist can also choose to work in an outpatient clinic strictly devoted to sports medicine, for example, or a rehab center as a speech therapist or occupational therapist.

A school system will typically require physical therapists to work with children in the special education departments. Special education curriculum will usually need to include physical therapy for many students. A physical therapist working in a school system may find his or her summers are free to pursue other personal interests. Other employment opportunities that should be considered will be available in universities, home health agencies, nursing homes or physicians' offices.

It was not that long ago when a student interested in a Bachelor's degree would pursue this career by achieving that four-year degree. Holding a Bachelor's degree with the proper certification can provide sufficient education for a PT job, it will not, however, open career paths with additional responsibilities or higher salaries. By the year 2000, a physical therapy career often required a student to attain a Master's or Doctorate degree to find gainful employment.

The student interested in a PT career can achieve his or her degree several ways. For someone who currently holds a Bachelor's degree, a direct-entry Master's program might be the right choice. This two-year program consists of one year of classroom learning, and the second year is comprised of the student successfully completing a clinical internship.

Furthermore, there are several other education programs to choose from as you consider your physical therapy goals. The transitional Master's degree program has been created for physical therapists with a Bachelor's degree in physical therapy. It is ideal for physical therapy professionals who want to further their education and careers without having to repeat courses they have already successfully passed.

There are also two Doctorates physical therapy programs to choose from as you consider your higher level degree options. The direct-entry Doctorate program has been designed for those who currently hold a Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field; this can be completed in three years. The transitional Doctorate program has been created for students pursuing more advanced physical therapy degrees but who already have completed a four-year degree in the field. These programs are great education choices as you consider a rewarding career as a physical therapist.